Obama caves to Israel, Softens stance on settlement freeze

[cutthemdown]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/...ef=werecommend

But the United States and Israel have publicly disagreed on Israeli plans to build more housing on land the Palestinians regard as theirs. Previous Obama administration demands for a freeze have been ignored by the Netanyahu government. Video Watch Netanyahu address peace, settlements »

Abbas has so far rejected resuming talks with Israel until the Jewish state halts all settlement building in the occupied West Bank and in predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem. Arab states also have balked at the U.S. request to take confidence-building measures toward Israel until Israel freezes settlement construction.

Sitting with Netanyahu and Abbas, Obama softened his regular language on a settlement "freeze," saying that Israel has had meaningful discussions about "restraining" settlement activity.



Obama should realize unless he threatens to let the UN sanction Israel and not veto it, or cut them off from all forms of military aid etc, they will not listen to his threats.

Now he already caves to Netenyahoo and Abbas is basically just a puppet only in power because Israel wanted him in power.

Hamas wields the real power and they aren't at the table.

This whole thing is a joke until someone is willing to play hardball.

[cutthemdown]

Jobs created morphs into jobs saved

and Halt all settlement activity morphs into restrain the activity

Does anyone really know when this President will take a stand and when he won't?

It's not good to come out and talk tough and then do nothing. I said when Obama suckled up to the Arabs in Egypt with his speech to Islam that he better come through on holding Israel accountable, or its better to not give that speech at all.

I can't believe how over his head this guy is. The funny thing is not one Democrat admits it yet. I have a few friends getting worried but they aren't ready to jump off the bandwagon yet.

I know several others that say hey I wanted Clinton but Obama was better then McCain.

[Spider]

and Ghaff (who I think is a loon ) gets called a nazi for pointing out how we cave to Israel ..........

[mhgaffney]

We saw the real Obama last January.

Israel was staging genocidal attacks against essentially defenseless people - including women and children -- and Obama did nothing.

So this latest move is not surprising. It's more of the same.

We are drifting toward a wider Mideast war -- because of the void of leadership here in America.

[mhgaffney]

BTW, I've been warning about this since my first book (about Israel's nuke program) was released in 1989.

Things have only gotten worse since then -- much worse.

Last January we saw the death of the US peace movement -- because so many people are afraid to speak out on the Israel issue.

[cutthemdown]

IMO you should either say we don't care, Israel our ally, deal with it.

Or we should tell Israel we mean it, its time to settle this problem once and for all. Completely halt all settlement activity, give back Golan heights to Syria, give up E. Jerusalem for there captial , and if you don't no more American money period.

I say he won't because he has too many Jewish supporters here in the states just like every President.

I could actually care less if the Palestinians get anything. I don't really think people in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Lybia etc etc care anymore then i do. I'm just sick of all the talk about peace this, negotiation that.

Israel can't survive without American money period. Use that to end this crap, or just admit we will never stand up to Israel when it comes to the Palestinians.

[rastaman]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/...ef=werecommend

But the United States and Israel have publicly disagreed on Israeli plans to build more housing on land the Palestinians regard as theirs. Previous Obama administration demands for a freeze have been ignored by the Netanyahu government. Video Watch Netanyahu address peace, settlements »

Abbas has so far rejected resuming talks with Israel until the Jewish state halts all settlement building in the occupied West Bank and in predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem. Arab states also have balked at the U.S. request to take confidence-building measures toward Israel until Israel freezes settlement construction.

Sitting with Netanyahu and Abbas, Obama softened his regular language on a settlement "freeze," saying that Israel has had meaningful discussions about "restraining" settlement activity.



Obama should realize unless he threatens to let the UN sanction Israel and not veto it, or cut them off from all forms of military aid etc, they will not listen to his threats.

Now he already caves to Netenyahoo and Abbas is basically just a puppet only in power because Israel wanted him in power.

Hamas wields the real power and they aren't at the table.

This whole thing is a joke until someone is willing to play hardball.

Nothing new, name a recent President that hasn't found the need to compromise with Isreal.

[barryr]

Most Jewish people in this country vote democrat, so doubtful Obama or any other democrat that is sane(which leaves out Jimmy Carter) wants to alienate that voting block.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by rastaman

Nothing new, name a recent President that hasn't found the need to compromise with Isreal.

It makes the President appear weak to go to Egypt and say in a speech America and I demand Israel stop all settlement building. Then turn around and say the opposite after one meeting with the Israeli leader.

If you can't see this as a mistake by Obama, and a sign he isn't fully prepared for the reality of foreign policy then I can't help you and either can anyone else.

I have several democratic friends. In fact about 80% are democrats. I live in California man!!!!!!! Most of them were shocked he caved so easily after talking tough.

They are disapointed but trying to look at the positive that he is at least trying. IMO trying and failing when it comes to the mideast is worst then not trying at all. When you try and fail, then war breaks out. Then it calms down a but and people go about there lives. Then some American president gets them all excited again, the negotiations fall apart, missiles fly into Israel, and Israeli tanks roll over babies in return.

It's time to break the cycle.

IMO a tough President would tell Syria you ain't ever getting back Golan Heights.
Israel you give back all land taken after the yr 2005 and close those settlements, or give them to the Palestinians.

Palestinians you give up right of return and forget about having Jerusalem as anything but a place you can live. You cant have it as a capital.

Then I would tell the countries that attacked Israel. Suadi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq (not Iran they always stayed out which is why our relationship with them such a bummer. IMO we could be great friends with the Persians. For sure USA made a mistake supporting the Shaw). I would tell those countries you need to give the Palestinians billions a yr to help them build up what you helped Israel to destroy.

Then I would say if you don't listen Israel I will cut you off and not sell any military items to you. I will not let Americans transfer money to your country. I will shut you down.

I would tell Syria you don't keep Hezzbolloh in place we will fire missiles at something you don't want to lose. And yes we mean it. I would tell Saudi Arabia to open those purse strings or we might just cozy up to Iran instead.

Then I would tell Hamas and the Palestinians that anymore attacks and we will hover drones over your territory and no member of any militant group will be safe.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by barryr

Most Jewish people in this country vote democrat, so doubtful Obama or any other democrat that is sane(which leaves out Jimmy Carter) wants to alienate that voting block.

Some Jewish people sick of how there country handles the situation, but your right most could care less about the Palestinians.

[mhgaffney]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

It makes the President appear weak to go to Egypt and say in a speech America and I demand Israel stop all settlement building. Then turn around and say the opposite after one meeting with the Israeli leader.

If you can't see this as a mistake by Obama, and a sign he isn't fully prepared for the reality of foreign policy then I can't help you and either can anyone else.

I have several democratic friends. In fact about 80% are democrats. I live in California man!!!!!!! Most of them were shocked he caved so easily after talking tough.

They are disapointed but trying to look at the positive that he is at least trying. IMO trying and failing when it comes to the mideast is worst then not trying at all. When you try and fail, then war breaks out. Then it calms down a but and people go about there lives. Then some American president gets them all excited again, the negotiations fall apart, missiles fly into Israel, and Israeli tanks roll over babies in return.

It's time to break the cycle.

IMO a tough President would tell Syria you ain't ever getting back Golan Heights.
Israel you give back all land taken after the yr 2005 and close those settlements, or give them to the Palestinians.

Palestinians you give up right of return and forget about having Jerusalem as anything but a place you can live. You cant have it as a capital.

Then I would tell the countries that attacked Israel. Suadi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq (not Iran they always stayed out which is why our relationship with them such a bummer. IMO we could be great friends with the Persians. For sure USA made a mistake supporting the Shaw). I would tell those countries you need to give the Palestinians billions a yr to help them build up what you helped Israel to destroy.

Then I would say if you don't listen Israel I will cut you off and not sell any military items to you. I will not let Americans transfer money to your country. I will shut you down.

I would tell Syria you don't keep Hezzbolloh in place we will fire missiles at something you don't want to lose. And yes we mean it. I would tell Saudi Arabia to open those purse strings or we might just cozy up to Iran instead.

Then I would tell Hamas and the Palestinians that anymore attacks and we will hover drones over your territory and no member of any militant group will be safe.

Your post shows you have learned nothing from history.

You would throw the UN Security Council resolutions out the window -- even though these are tantamount to international law.

Such a move leads to global chaos.

All that needs to happen is for the US to insist that Israel abide by this same international law.

Withdraw its military to the 1967 borders.

Even the UN partition plan in 1947 called for Jerusalem to be an international city - hence a capital for both Jews and Palestinians.

The right of return is OK for Jews -- but not Arabs?

[watermock]

I like the Terminator approach.

Next time Isreal rolls over Gaza. Jesus, it's a prison there.

Not be be Nazi or anything, but we have given Israel plenty.

IMO, it's a matter of ownership of the temple mount.

There is plenty of real estate and money in King Saud's couch to feed, clothe and heal the palstinean people.

Just constantly pissing people off isn't good foriegn policy.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by mhgaffney

Your post shows you have learned nothing from history.

You would throw the UN Security Council resolutions out the window -- even though these are tantamount to international law.

Such a move leads to global chaos.

All that needs to happen is for the US to insist that Israel abide by this same international law.

Withdraw its military to the 1967 borders.

Even the UN partition plan in 1947 called for Jerusalem to be an international city - hence a capital for both Jews and Palestinians.

The right of return is OK for Jews -- but not Arabs?

Sorry Gaff but those things will never happen. There has to be a lot of give because the jews won the war.

Name one country in the whole world not shaped by war at some point to stake out what is theres.

We try now to respect the borders we have. I could maybe go with more land then what has been settled since 2005, but no way 1967.

Also no right of return because Israel is a democracy and would then be outnumbered at some point by arabs. No way Israel goes for that. They would fight to the bitter end.

Maybe let them have some sort of capital in Jerusalem, but I doubt it.

Otherwise what you want is war. To force the end of Israel as we know it know, and send it back to 1967? Seems impossible without war.

Also why do you care so much about the UN when it comes to Israel, but not Iran? You seem to think Iran has a right to nuclear weapons because Israel has them. How can you say listen to UN on one hand, and not the other?

I have a hard time respecting peoples positions when they are like that.

You in particular are the hardest person to find anything redeeming about on the whole board.

Congratulations.

[watermock]

Netanyahoo doesn't even look Jewish!

Like I've said before, the issue is the temple mount.

You would think the Saudis/Egyptians would have been able to take this off the table 10 years ago.

There is tons of gas off Lebanon to Lybia.

You see that a-hole Kadaffi yesterday, or Amgedumbass?

Do they seem concerned about palestine, or hatred of Israel?

Good god, why can't the arabs take care of their own?

We are talking like 30 million.